American Marconi Wireless News - Rain forces cancellation of opening practice for Australian MotoGP

Organisers made the decision almost two hours after it had been due to start with too much water on the track.

With four race weekends left, the championship is finely poised with Spanish Pramac star Jorge Martin just 10 points ahead of Italy's Ducati defending champion Francesco Bagnaia.

The lack of practice puts more emphasis on the second session, which is due to start at 3:00 pm (0400 GMT).

The 10 quickest riders from that, should it go ahead, move straight through to Saturday's second qualifying which shapes the first four rows of the grid for the sprint race and Sunday's main event.

This group are joined by the fastest two in Saturday's first qualifying stint.

With the track newly resurfaced, teams wanted a dry day to gather data on what tyres were best suited to the new asphalt.

But it was not to be, with the rain getting heavier after Moto2 and Moto3 practice went ahead.

Last year the Australian grand prix was held a day early because of forecast gale-force winds with the 13-lap sprint race pushed back to the Sunday.

The sprint was ultimately called off an hour before it was due to start with the track soaked and wind gusts of up to 80 kilometres (50 miles) per hour.

O.Johnson--AMWN